Improved bridle-bit



llnted tam atmet @twine Letters .Patent No. 90,857, dated .Tame 1, 1869.

IMPROVED BRIDLE-BIT.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the name.

, To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, J osIAH LnTcnwoRTH, of the city of Bniialo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bridle-Bits; and \I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a view of my improved bit, represented disteuded. f

Figure II is a ,sectional detached view.

Like letters refer to like parts in both figures.

The mouth-piece of bridle-bits is usually composed either of wrought or of malleable iron. When made of wrought-iron, it generally consists of twisted wire. This formsv a cheap bit, and one of, great strength; but it is objectionable for general use on account of the liability of the twisted wire to cut or abrade the animalsmouth.

f The malleable bit is cast with a hook at each end, to engage with the cheek-pieces, the connection being made by closing the hook after the mouth-piece has been annealed, forming what maybe tei-ined a cold joint.

This constructionof Abit enables the mouth-piece t0 be made smooth, and of any required size, which obviates the objection raised tothe wirebit.

This bit, however, is also objectionable, from the fact that the bending of the hooks of the mouthpiece, in forming the joint with the cheek-pieces when the Inetal'is cold, frequently causes a partial -fracture, which renders the connection in many instances inse cure.

This imperfection of the joint being ordinarilyY not descernible, renders such bits unsafe for use, especially with spirited horses.

The object of my improvement is the production of a mouth-piece for bridle-bits, that shall possess the smoothness and size of the malleable bit, and the strength and reliability of' a wrought-iron one.

The invention consists in the combination, with a wrought-iron or wire bit, of a cast-iron sleeve or mouth-protector, cast around the mouth-piece after the joints between it and cheek-pieces have been made.

In the drawings- A A represent the cheek-pieces, and B B the two portions of awire mouth-piece, linked together at the centre, and jointed to the cheek-pieces by bending the two ends b b of the wire of each half around the ring thereof, in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. II.

The bit thus formed is placed in the sand, and the sleeves, or moutlnprotectors c c, of the required shape and size, are cast around the mouth-piece, as clearly represented.

In addition to protecting the horses mouth, these protectors, being cast. so as to extend close to the joints with the cheek-pieces, enclose the ends b of the wire, and firmly secure them in place, thus preventing the possibility of their being extended by any strain to which a bit is ever subjected.

The great importance of having a bit that is thus secure against any liability of the parts breaking, or the connections giving way, is-su'iciently obvious.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure i by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with a wrought-iron mouth-piece vof' a bridle-bit, oi' the slceves/ or mouth-protectors C cast thereon, substantially as set forth.

J OSIAH LETOHWORTH.

Witnesses:

J AY HYATT, JNO. J.. BONNER. 

